AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD boy has appealed to police to catch whoever shot dead his pet kitten.

Samuel Shiel, of Heather Lane, Yiewsley, was devastated when his white and tabby kitten, named Sweeney, was shot at close range with an air rifle.

The kitten was given to Samuel for Christmas by his mother, Katharine. Despite extensive veterinary treatment,

Sweeney died - on Mrs Shiel's birthday.

At about 8.30pm on April 29 a neighbour took Sweeney home after seeing her limping and bleeding badly.

Samuel said: "Over the next four days, after she was shot, we cared for her. Her rear legs were affected by nerve damage and she refused to eat or drink.

"We gave her water and kitten milk via a syringe.

"The vet phoned to tell us that X-rays confirmed Sweeney had been shot with an air rifle. She needed surgery but was not expected to survive the anaesthetic.

"Mummy told him to do everything he could to save her life."

It proved an impossible task because the injuries were so severe, and she died three hours later.

Samuel said: "The next morning, Mummy had to wake up me and my sister to tell us that Sweeney had died. The vet said that she must have been shot at very close range to cause so much damage.

"We hope this never happens to anyone else, especially other children with pets.

"We named her Sweeney, after Sweeney Todd, because her claws were razor sharp and she was only six months old," he said.

Samuel is urging anyone who saw anything suspicious, or knows anyone in the Heather Lane or Philpotts Farm area who owns an air rifle, to contact the police.

He added: "Even though nothing can bring Sweeney back, please help us to help other families so that they do not have to be as sad as we are."

Daniel Doherty, of MyVet 24/7, in Cowley Road, Uxbridge, who battled to save Sweeney, said: "It is an absolute shame.

"The gun must have been fired at close range and hit the cat with a high velocity because it did awful damage."

Mrs Shiel described the shooting as a 'horrible crime' and has called for the perpetrator to be brought to justice.

The airgun pellet has been removed from Sweeney's body and is now in the possession of the police, who are investigating.

Sergeant Derek Wheeler, of Yiewsley Safer Neighbourhoods Team, said: "This is a terrible crime which has left the family very distressed."

* No arrests have been made. To contact the police, call 020 8721 2713 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.